The novel explores the complexities of human relationships and the inevitable confrontation with mortality through the eyes of a retired literary agent who, along with his wife, seeks tranquility in the California hills. Their idyllic retreat is disrupted by the arrival of various characters, including a free-spirited young woman battling cancer and a stubborn neighbor intent on destroying the natural landscape. As the protagonist grapples with the intrusion of these "little live things," he reflects on the themes of aging, loss, and the enduring struggle to find meaning in the face of life's impermanence.
The 8348th greatest book of all time
Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist. Some call him "The Dean of Western Writers." He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972 and the U.S. National Book Award in 1977.
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